Ignition switch



4March 1, 1932. J. A. SULLIVAN 1,847,793

GNITION SWITCH Filed Feb. 7, 1928 3637 D f A Z7 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 JEREMIAH A. SULLIVAN, F BROKLYN, NEWV YORK'v IGNITION SWITCH Application filed February 7, 1928, Serial No. 252,473.

5 While suitable ignition locks are usually provided on automotive vehicles, it quite frequently occurs that the owner or driver of the vehicle will leave the vehicle and permit the engine to remain running, or, if he breaks the ignition circuit byturning the key which looks the switch in open position, he perhaps leaves the key in the lock. Not infrequently duplicate keys are employed to unlock the ignition switch and the vehicle stolen. p

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a device operable by the opening of the vehicle side door adjacent the driver which automatically breaks the ignition circuit when the door is opened. It is also an '20 object of the invention to employ a novel form of switch designed to be opened by the vehicle door but which can be closed only by the actuation of a combination or permutation switch operating mechanism. Further objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the switch and its opening and closing mechanism;

F ig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of F ig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of F ig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view of the switch knob and dial.

Referring to the drawings, the switch is housed in a casing 11 attached to the dash 12 of the vehicle. The switch comprises an operating shaft 13 projecting through the dash and having secured thereto in a manner to be described hereinafter the switch arms 14, 15, 16 and 17. On the projecting end of the shaft, that is, on that side of the dash exposed to the view of the driver, is secured a knob and pointer 18 adapted to move over a graduated dial 18. Also secured to the operating shaft is a toothed wheel or rachet 19.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the arms 14, and 16 each have a pin and slot connection with the operating shaft 13, a

disk 20 being rigidly secured tothe shaft and Aation will be apparent.

having four pairs of pins 21 projecting therefrom at suitably spaced intervals. `Each pair of pins is adapted to cooperate with arcuate slots 22 in a base portion 23 at the inner end of the arm, the slots varying in lengthfor each arm.- Each arm is curved intermediate its ends, as at 24, and its outer end is parallel, but in av dierent plane, with the inner end of the arm. The outer portion of the arm is provided with a projection 25 which may be 00 pressed in the arm.

The ignition circuit includes a number of segmental conductors 26, each spaced a slight amount rfrom the next, and all mounted onV a circular plate 27 secured `to casing 11 by 65 screws or other suitable fastenings 28. The end segments are connected to binding terminals 29 on the plate 27, these terminals also being connected to the spark plugs and source of electric current. The arms 14, 15, 16 and 7o 17 may be positioned, by proper manipulation of the switch, to bridge the gaps between the ends of adjacent segments and thus close the circuit.

Pivoted to a bracket 30-on the dash is a 76 bell-crank lever 31 one arm of which is connected to a rack 32 slidably mounted in the casing 11. The other arm of the bell-crank lever is connected to a rod 33 slidably secured to the side of th-e vehicle and adapted to be 30 engaged by' a lug 34 on the vehicle door 35.

A coil spring` 36 is interposed between a collar 37 on the rack 32 anda projection 38 of the casing and surrounds the rack while a j light leaf spring 39 presses the rack toward 35 th-e ratchet, the latter'being in two parts and pivoted at 40. It will be noted that theteeth on the rack each have a straight face and an inclined face so that the rack is adapted to slide over the` ratchet when moving in one direction but engages the'ratchet when moving in the opposite'direction.r When the `vehicle door is closed the spring` 36 is compressed, thus placing the rack 32 inthe dotted position clear of the gear V 95 Fromthe foregoing description kthe oper- Normally, that is when the vehicle door 35 is closed and all of the segments bridged by the switch arms, the ignition circuit is closed. Should the operator of the car leave it 'for any reason the door must be opened, whereupon the spring 3G moves the teeth o1 the rack inte engagement with the ratchet and turns the shait 13 carrying; the switch arms. rilhe ignition circuit is thus automatically breiten. To reset the switch to close the circuit, it necessary to turn the resetting knob alternately in opposite directions to again bridge the segments 2G. This can be done only by moving the arms through a predetern'iined are in each direction, the pin and slot connections between the shaft and arms varying,` for each arm. It will be apparent, for instance, that it the arms are moved countereloeliwise a predetermined amount the arm lli wiii. bridge two of the segments but the other ai be carried past the other gaps. Reve movement of the arms the arm 15 will be brought to bridgine` pos ion. The operation is continued until ali oi the arms are in proper position.

As shown in Fig. a vary in length for each jection 25 on arm le en its adjacent segments, nis position being determined by the peinte r l@ and the dial. i8', the knob is tar ed in the opposite direction a distance less than the length of the slots in arm 14 to bring arm into i; nlr position. There is, therefore, no relative moi/'ement between the arm lei and ti e segments. Since the slots are progressively shorter each arm 1n x be moved relative to the ther until all et the proiections 25 eng we the gaps between the segments. The racl; is so designed to more the ratchet wheel through a distance greater than the length oi any of the slots so that all ot the arms are disengaged from the traps.

Vhile a specific embodiment et the invention. has been described and illustrated, it is obvious that other means may be employed to operate the switch and it is not intended that the invention be limited to the details illnstrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

l. A door operated s'fitch for an electric circuit comprising;l a plnraiity et contact members 'for closing; the circuit, means for to open the circuit separating said members door is being moved from closed t arcuate slots 22 When the prowhen the open position, said means being incapable ot opening` the circuit dni-ing door closing; operation, and means for resettingr the switch to closed position when the door is either `fully opened or fully closed.

2. A door operated switch for an electri circuit compi-isms` a plurality o' contact members for closing the circuit, ratchet means for separating' said members to ope-n the circuit, a rack for actuating' said ratchet, spring means for moyine said raclr in a direetion to separate said members when the door is moved from closed to open position, 

